Chisholm Need to Know

CAROLINE CHISHOLM COLLEGE

New Religious Education Curriculum
The most important work of our Catholic school is the education and formation we provide in the Catholic faith. From 2020 students in the Diocese of Parramatta will begin learning a new curriculum developed to respond more authentically to the needs of young people. Students in Year 9 at Caroline Chisholm have begun following this new curriculum and other year groups will come on board over the coming years. The curriculum takes as its inspiration both the tradition of our faith and the questions of our teenagers. There are three facets to each learning experience that are designed to engage the head (intellectual learning), the heart (spiritual / emotional learning) and the hands (practical learning). Now, more than ever, our young people need these rich learning experiences to help them make sense of an uncertain world.

Parent and Teacher Interviews Years 7 - 10
Parents and carers of students in Years 7 to 10 will soon receive an invitation to participate in interviews about their daughter's learning and growth over the first semester. These will be held on Friday 14 August from 9.00am to 4:00pm. For the safety and wellbeing of the community, these will take place using the Zoom video-conferencing platform that we used during the COVID-19 remote learning period. Participating in the interviews with your daughter's teachers is a two step process: booking the appointments prior to the day and then following each teacher's Zoom link on the day. Instructions will be sent to each family. Due to the unusual and disrupted nature of schooling this year, we encourage all parents and carers to take the opportunity to check in with the teachers. Interviews are scheduled for only 5 minutes each. Due to the added complexity of video-conferencing, please do not book consecutive meetings. Thank you for your patience.

Year 10 into 11 Subject Selection Interviews
Under the current COVID-19 restrictions, we have redesigned our process for these interviews for our Year 10 students. Most families will not require an interview, particularly if there are no inconsistencies in the student's selection of subjects for Year 11 and 12. Parents who have questions or require further information about their daughter's subject selection are invited to make an appointment to meet.  Students who require an interview will be notified by Ms Scollard. These families will meet, via Zoom, with a member of the College Executive on Friday 14 August. 

Friday 14 August - Years 7-12 Attendance
In order to facilitate the Year 7-10 interviews, all students Years 7-12 will not attend school on Friday 14 August.

Year 12 Graduation Events
The COVID-19 restrictions have had a major impact on how we would traditionally celebrate the end of Year 12 for our girls. Dr Elliott as sent an email students and their families about the changes that have become necessary due to the prohibition on school assemblies, parent audiences, the celebration of Mass and visiting other school sites. The college is committed to creating a sacred, meaningful and memorable rite of passage for this group of students within the limits of the health restrictions. Please pray for our Year 12s who have, in some ways, suffered more loss and disruption than our other students.

Visitors to the College
Parents are still welcome to come to the College to drop off items, collect students, pay bills, etc. Please be very mindful of the need to follow safe practices in the College foyer. Due to the limited space, only two adults can occupy the foyer area at one time. All other guests are asked to wait outside the door. Also, please be mindful of remaining 1.5 metres distant from our reception and office staff. Hand sanitiser is available and we insist on its use by visitors entering the College. Thank you for supporting the safety of our employees.

Year 7 2021 Transition Interviews
Many of our families enrolling students to commence at Caroline Chisholm next year have signed up to Skoolbag and our updates. We can now inform those families that the transition interviews that were scheduled for 17 August have been postponed to Term IV due to COVID-19. Thank you for your understanding.

ACARA Collection Student Background Data Notice
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) collects data from schools to determine the Index of Community Socio-educational Advantage (ICSEA). CEDP is currently working to provide relevant details to the Catholic Education Commission of NSW.  Data collected is de-identified of personal information. Parents and caregivers must advise their school if they don’t want their child's data included in this report by 28 August 2020.Copies of Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP) Standard Collection Notice and Privacy Policy can be obtained from the school office.

Fee Reductions on Cancelled Excursions
Please note that the CEDP has just processed credits against selected school fee accounts for significant excursions that have already been cancelled in Term 1 and Term 2 due to the impact of COVID-19. These credits will appear in the Instalment 3 statement (if applicable) to be sent out in the next few weeks. If your account is in credit as a result of these adjustments you will not normally receive a Third Instalment statement but our Finance Department will contact affected parents to discuss how they wish to proceed. The options would normally be to: 
a. process a refund (if significant) and if requested by the parent or carer; or 
b. leave the account in credit to offset future college fees.

The excursions for which credits have been processed so far are:
1. The Year 7 Camp Overnight to NSW Sport & Recreation at Narrabeen; and
2. The Year 10 English excursion to see The Crucible at the Seymour Centre.

Other excursions that may be cancelled in Term 3 and Term 4 may generate further credits that will be processed in Term 4. We will confirm the cancellation of any significant excursions and related processing of credits in Term 4. Again, options of a refund or the carry forward of credit balances will be discussed with parents and carers at that time. Our thanks for your patience in these matters.

COVID-19 - Cashless Transactions Preferred
With ongoing concerns in the wider community about COVID-19, and to protect the students, parents and staff of Caroline Chisholm College, we would prefer that any future financial transactions with the College be via some cashless form. This may be via Debit Card, Credit Card, or an electronic funds transfer using your personal internet banking facility. EFTPOS facilities are available at the College Reception and in the College Canteen. We apologise if this may involve some initial inconvenience but it is already becoming common at many retail outlets in the Greater Sydney Region.

HSC Drama Showcase
On Wednesday 5 August at 6.30pm, HSC Drama students will perform their HSC works for Individual Performance for their Major study. This is a very important night for our Year 12 Drama students so please come and support them as they present all of their hard work for the first time in our beautiful new performance spaces. The entrance to the new Performance Centre is via the Western carpark. To help us comply with current COVID-19 requirements, parents and friends coming to this evening must return an RSVP to allow us to seat people safely and appropriately. Please complete this Google form - Click here

Years 12 'Girls Night In'
On Friday 7th August, Year 12 will be taking time out of the business of their trial preparations to enjoy Chisholm's annual 'Girls Night In'. This year it will only be for Year 12. The night will begin at 6pm and conclude at approximately 9pm. On the night, students will be provided with a pizza dinner while they watch a movie and participate in some fun games including UNO and Jenga. To confirm their attendance, as well as any dietary requirements, students are required to complete the attached google form - Click here

CEDP Primary and Secondary Sport Update
Please note the important changes to Diocesan sport in Term 3:

All Primary and Secondary inter-school sports scheduled for Term 3 have been suspended until further notice.
All Primary and Secondary Gala Days scheduled for Term 3 have been cancelled. 
All Primary and Secondary Athletics Carnivals scheduled for Term 3 or Term 4 have been cancelled.
All Primary and Secondary Intra-school sport is permitted, as long as appropriate COVID-19 Safe plans and procedures are in place.

For clarification, questions and/or further information please contact Chris Anschau (Secondary Sports) through the Enterprise Service Desk at esd@parra.catholic.edu.au.  

Diary Dates - Term 3 Week 3

Wednesday 5 August
HSC Drama Showcase - 6.30 pm

Friday 7 August

Year 12 - Girls Night In

CONTACTING THE COLLEGE VIA EMAIL

Caroline Chisholm College recognises that email is a fast and convenient way to communicate with your child’s teacher. We wish to remind you that teachers read their emails at various times throughout the school day. Further, teachers are generally not expected to respond to emails from parents and students outside of normal working hours. In the case of a genuine emergency please contact the school office during business hours on carolinechisholm@parra.catholic.edu.au or phone 02 4737 5500. We appreciate your assistance and understanding.If you have any questions about the above please feel free to contact the college.